Stoicism and Balance as Traits Relating to Manhood within the poem "If" The poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling is a literary example of the practice of passing life teachings down from parent to offspring. The poem particularly focuses on the subject of manhood by having the speaker (a parent) give advice to his son on what will make him a good man. This advice includes implied traits that are necessary for survival and happiness in a world of struggle. Kipling demonstrates what it means to be a man of good character and strength by emphasizing the need for the implied traits of stoicism and balance within the poem. Throughout the poem, Kipling uses the speaker's situational examples to imply that stoicism is an important aspect to being a good
